Razor blade sharpener operating means



Aug. 14, 1934. w co 1,970,117

RAZOR BLADE SHARPENER OPERATING MEANS Filed March 8, 1930 Patented Aug. 14, 1934 RAZOR BLADE SHARIPENER ()PERATING MEANS Frank E. Woicott, West Hartford, Conn.

Application March 8, 1930, Serial No. 434,305

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the type of safety razor blade sharpeners which have a plurality of rolls that are rotated by a crank handle.

The present invention has among its objects to provide an improved and simplified operating means so constructed that the rolls will not be rotated backward should the crank handle be given a backward turn, and improved and simplified means associated with this handle whereby the device may be packed for storing and transportation in a small space. These and other objects of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown for purposes of illustration one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 shows a plan of a portable razor blade sharpener provided with operating means having the features of this invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section through the casing on substantially the plane indicated by the dotted line 33 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating one manner of connecting the crank arm with the axle pin of one roll. Fig. 5 is a section through the end of the roll and the means for connecting the crank arm. Fig. 6 shows a modified construction of the crank arm.

The bottom 1 of the casing illustrated is curved from end to end and the side walls 2 are recessed downward near the center. The cover is formed of two flaps 3, 3 that are pivoted to the side walls of the casing at 4 so that the top of the casing may be opened and closed when desired. The sharpening rolls 5 shown are spirally wound with leather strips 6, and the axles of the upper rolls are mounted in the cover flaps while the axles of the lower rolls are mounted in the casing. Attached to the rolls are gears 7 that are geared 40 together in the well-known manner so that when the crank handle is turned forward the rolls will be rotated in order to sharpen the edges of any blade that is placed on the pins 8.

The axle of one of the lower rolls is extended through the casing and has a shank 9 that is roughened and driven into a socket in the end of the roll and it has an enlarged head 10 on its extended end which is located outside of the easing. The crank arm 11 is loosely fastened to the head of the axle by a screw 12 that has a section 13 under the head which is flattened on two sides.

The screw opening in the crank arm has a ratchet tooth 14 so shaped that when the crank arm is turned forward the tooth will engage one of the flattened sides of the screw and turn the screw and rolls, but when the crank arm is turned backward the tooth will cam itself away from the flattened side of the screw and allow the crank arm to turn freely, that is, without rotating the rolls.

The crank handle 15 is loosely mounted in the outer end of the crank arm so that it may be slid in and out transversely of the crank arm. The handle preferably has a stud member 16 the fits the opening in the crank arm with a head 17 on the inside, and a threaded shank 18 that extends to the outside of the crank arm. The member 15 has a thread socket which is screwed upon the threaded shank of the stud. This member is substantially the same diameter as the stud 16 and it has a head 19 at its outer end. This construction permits the handle to be pushed longitudinally inward or drawn outward when desired.

The opening for the screw 12 that fastens the crank arm to the roll axle may be elongated, as illustrated in Fig. 4, or the opening for the handle may be elongated, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that the handle may be carried to such a position that it can be pushed inward through the recess in the side wall of the casing, below the side walls of the cover flaps, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

With this simple and cheap construction the rolls will not be rotated backward so that the leathers will be cut by the blade being sharpened if the handle is turned backward, and when not in use the handle or the crank arm may be so located that the handle can be pushed into the casing where it will be out of the way, thus facilitating the packing or storing of the device in a small space.

In the operation of my improved device, it will be evident that when the crank arm 11 is turned in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, the straight abutment face of the tooth'la will engage one of the flattened surfaces'of the screw 12 in the roll axle, thus rotating the sharpening rolls in a forward direction; and that when the crank arm 1 l is turned in the opposite, or counter clockwise direction, that the rectangular shank of the axle screw 12 will ride over the cam surface of the tooth 14 free from driving engagement with the same and consequently without rotation of the sharpening rolls.

The handle 11 is fitted loosely in the free end of the crank arm so that it may be moved laterally with respect to the crank arm between alternate positions in one of which it projects outwardly from the crank arm (Fig. 3) in operative position, and in another of which it projects inno Wardly on the opposite side of the crank arm and is adapted, in one radially adjusted position thereof relative to the roll axis, to extend into the casing. In this position of the handle, the device is substantially rectangular in configuration, thus enabling it to be easily packed in a small space. As shown in Fig. 4, the aperture, or screw opening, in the crank arm is elongated to permit radial adjustment of the handle and crank arm into the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the handle is opposite and can be moved laterally to enter the casing aperture. In the modified construction of Fig. 6 the crank arm is slotted at its free end so that the handle may be slid along the length of the crank arm into the required position relative to the casing aperture.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, together with one modified construction of crank arm, it will be understood that the same is shown for purposes of illustration only, and that the invention is not limited thereto but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a plurality of rolls therein and an aperture in one end of said casing, blade supporting means in said casing, roll operating means including a crank arm having a handle and means for enabling adjustment of the latter radially relative to its axis and also. transversely along the line of its axis, said handle being receivable in said aperture in one position of radial and transverse adjustment, and cover means on said casing freely movable into and out of closedposition while said handle is in said aperture.

2. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a plurality of rolls therein and an aperture in one end of said casing, blade supporting means in said casing, roll operating means having a crank arm, a handle portion carried by said arm and transversely movable relative thereto, means for enabling adjustment of said handle portion radially relative to the arm axis and into said aperture in one radial position relative to the arm axis, and a plurality of cover members pivoted on said casing and each freely movable into and out of closed position while said handle is in said aperture.

3. A razor blade sharpener having a casing with a plurality of rolls therein and an aperture in one end of said casing, the axle of one of said rolls extending through the casing, a crank arm with one end connected with said axle, means comprising a longitudinally disposed slot in said arm and a handle on said crank arm and movable in and out transversely thereof and radially relative to said axle, whereby when the sharpener is not in use said handle may be disposed in the aperture in the casing.

4. A razor blade sharpener having a casing with a plurality of rolls therein and an opening in one end of said casing, the axle of one of said rolls extending through the casing, a crank arm with one end connected with said axle, a crank handle movable transversely with relation to the crank arm, said handle being receivable in said opening when in one position, and a plurality of cover members on said casing each carrying cooperating blade engaging means and each movable-into and out of closed position while said handle is in said opening.

5.. A razor blade sharpener having a casing with a plurality of rolls therein, a blade holder therein, and an aperture in one end of said casing, the axle of one of said rolls extending through the casing, a crank arm having one end connected to and carrying means on said connected end for enabling adjustment of a handle thereon radially with relation to said axle, a crank handle connected to and movable transversely with relation to the crank arm into said aperture in said casing when in one radial position, and a plurality of cover members on said casing each carrying a cooperating roll and freely movable into and out or" closed position while said handle is in said aperture.

6. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a blade supporting means and a roll therein, a cover flap carrying a roll operatively connected to said roll, roll operating means including a roll driving axle, a crank arm having a connection at one end with said axle and having means at its connected end for enabling radial adjustment thereof relative to said axle, and a handle carried by said crank arm and movable therewith relative to said axle and also movable transversely of said crank arm into and out of said casing when said flap is open and said crank arm is in one position of radial adjustment.

'7. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a plurality of operatively connected spaced rolls therein and an end opening between said rolls and above the operative connections there-between, movable cover flaps pivoted on said casing carrying co-operating rolls operatively connected to said first mentioned rolls, and roll actuating means having a handle disposable in said op ning in the casing.

8. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a plurality of operatively connected spaced rolls therein and an end opening between said rolls and above the operative connections therebetween, movable cover flaps pivoted on said casing carrying co-operating rolls operatively connected to said first mentioned rolls, and roll actuating means having a handle movable radially relative to its axis and transversely into said opening in one position of radial adjustment.

9. In a razor blade sharpener, a casing having a plurality of rolls therein and an aperture in one end thereof adapted to receive a handle, and roll operating means comprising a crank arm, clutch means between the same and said rolls adapted to engage when the crank arm is turned in one direction and to disengage when the crank arm is turned in the opposite direction, a handle for turning the crank arm carried thereon and movable transversely thereof into said aperture, and means comprising an elongated slot for enabling radial adjustment of said handle to control said clutch means and position said handle opposite said aperture.

10. A razor blade sharpener having a casing with a plurality of rolls therein and an aperture in one end and operating means connected to said rolls comprising a longitudinally slotted crank arm, clutch means between the same and the rolls, and a handle radially adjustable in said slot to connect or disconnect said clutch and movable in one position of radial adjustment transversely relative to said crank arm into said aperture in the casing.

11. In a razor blade sharpener, a driving axle, a crank arm; clutching means between the crank arm and axle operative in only one direction of rotation of said arm including apertured abutment means on said arm and a co-operating flattened section of said axle in said apertured means and engageable by the abutment thereof only in one direction of rotation of said arm, means forming a continuation of said apertured means for enabling radial adjustment of a handle carried on said arm, and a handle for turning said arm carried on the latter.

12. In a razor blade sharpener, a protruding axle having a crank arm carrying portion provided with a flat side reducing the cross section of said portion, and a crank arm having an aperture therein rotatable around said portion and having in said aperture an abutment having an; end engaging said flat side and rotating said axle when the crank arm is turned in one direction, and a cam for maintaining said abutment out of engagement with said side when said arm is re- Versely rotated.

13. In a razor blade sharpener, a protruding axle pin, a second pin having a flattened section therein and having one end seated in the head of said axle pin and the other protruding longitudinally of the latter, and a crank arm apertured to turn about the flattened section of said second pin and having a tooth in its aperture shaped to engage said flattened section when the arm is turned in one direction and a cam disengaging said tooth and flattened section when said arm is turned in the opposite direction.

14. In a razor blade sharpener, a driving axle having a flattened section therein, and a crank arm loosely mounted on said flattened section and having an opening larger than said axle and a tooth projecting into said opening having a face adapted to engage said flattened section and rotate said axle when said arm is turned in one direction and also having a cam face preventing engagement of said tooth with said flattened sec tion when said arm is turned in the opposite direction.

15. In a razor blade sharpener, an axle pin, a screw with a flattened outer section threaded into the outer end of said pin, and a crank arm loosely mounted on said flattened section having an opening larger than said screw and a tooth having an abutment engaging said flattened section when said arm is turned in one direction and a cam preventing engagement of the same when said arm is turned in the opposite direction.

16. In a razor blade sharpener, a driving axle having a flattened portion of its periphery providing an abutment, a crank arm rotatable around said portion, and clutch means on said arm and cooperating with said portion comprising an aperture in said arm larger than the cross section of said axle at said flattened portion and having an abutment having a flat end engaging said flattened portion when said arm is rotated in one direction and also having a cam shrouding said abutment when the arm is rotated in the opposite direction.

17. In a razor blade sharpener, a driving axle, a pin having a shank seated in the end of said axle and a flattened portion of the periphery of said shank beyond the end of said axle, and a crank arm rotatable around said flattened portion having an enlarged aperture receiving the latter and an abutment projecting into said aperture having a flat end engageable with said flattened portion when said arm is rotatable in one direction and a cam surface shrouding said abutment when said arm is rotated in the opposite direction.

FRANK E. WOLCOTT. 

